How a Bunny Became a Sun

I decided that in order to become a better tatter, I need to tat every day. One of the ways I figured out how to do this was to sign up for some online tatting classes. I've re-joined the Georgia Seitz online class that meets on Mondays as well as Sue Fuller's tatting designer class that meets on Tuesdays. You can find out more information about both classes and others HERE.

There are a couple of projects going on in the tatting designer class right now. One of the projects is to design a bunny. The other project is to design something that is outdoors/Springtime. Both seemed easy enough projects. I decided to start with the bunny.

Google searches and sketches got me to thinking about what kind of bunny I really wanted to make. I thought about the different types of bunnies out there. While most would go for the obvious cute bunny with the floppy ears and cotton ball tail, I just couldn't wrap my mind around that image.

My bunny seemed a bit more round and more puff rather then fluff. It was looking more like a dust bunny rather then a cuddly bunny.

Out came the needles and thread as I tried to figure out how to put the pieces together.

Well, my first attempt did not go well and I ended up with something that looked more like a four-eyed mutant bunny that just escaped from a science lab.

Bunny design epic fail. Or is it?

But wait, do my eyes deceive me, or do I see another design hidden within this mutant bunny?

Yes, I would have to bring this pattern all the way around to see what would come of it.

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #139 Fruit Fizz

Well, well, well, what do we have here. A respectable looking snowflake. But it felt like I could do some more with this snowflake. So I decided that I would file this particular design away for later. Now onto playing with the piece a bit more. Maybe adding some levels to the rings for interest.

Lizbeth size 20 thread, color #656 Wedgewood Dk

Oooooh! Now I was really on to something. What if I changed the position of the small and large rings? Maybe less picots in the center? Hummm...

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #688 Seagreen Dk

I really started to like what I was seeing. And extremely impressed with my own design skills. 

Now I just needed to find the right thread to really pull it off the image that was coming through.

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #100 Falling Leaves

Ta Da! A cute little sun burst to shine bright and warm the day.

But what of the bunny, you ask? Well, it took making a sun to show me how to make this little dust bunny. Simple and quick to tat. Look at its wide open eyes, plump little cheeks and a very dust-bunnish body. Isn't he just adorable?

Lizbeth size 20 thread color #678 Olive

Now, I'm off to write down the patterns for both.